Table 1 Risk of bias assessment. Assessment of sources of risk of bias within publications
Criteria | References | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clark et al. (1997) [23] | Reijneveld et al. (2003) [27] | Sawchuk et al. (2008) [29] | Clark et al. (2001) [24] | Borschmann et al. (2000) [30] | Clark et al. (2012) [26] | Jackson et al. (2000) [25] | Resnick et al. (2008) [28] | |
1. Adequate method of randomisation? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
2. Allocation concealment? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | U | Y | U |
3. Patient blinding? | N | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N |
4. Provider blinding? | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
5. Outcome assessor blinding? | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | U |
6. Dropout rate described and acceptable? | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
7. All participants analysed in allocated group? | Y | Y | Y | Y | U | Y | U | U |
8. Free of suggestive/selective outcome reporting? | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
9. Similarity of baseline characteristics? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
10. Co-interventions avoided or similar? | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
11. Compliance acceptable? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
12. Timing of outcome assessment similar? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Total 0–12 Y | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |